As we get ready for Week 5 of the 2023 NFL Season, we enter our first critical period of the fantasy football season. Many fantasy managers will face their first serious roster decisions of the season. For managers who lost players to injury in Week 4, this may be their only chance to stay afloat. So let’s take a look at my Week 5 Waiver Wire Targets for fantasy football.
* I will be using Yahoo Fantasy Rostership & for this Week 5 Waiver Wire article. I will also attempt to give several options at each position, for varying league sizes. The dollar value next to the player’s name is the desired amount of FAAB to bid on them with a $100 budget.
Quarterbacks
CJ Stroud, Houston Texans ($25)
Week 4 Opponent: Falcons, Rostership: 47%
Stroud has been unbelievable in his first month as an NFL starter. The rookie is quickly putting to rest the notion that a rookie quarterback can’t produce for fantasy football. Stroud has 28 or more fantasy points in each of his last three games while racking up 280 yards or more.
Combined with young receivers Tank Dell and Nico Collins, the ceiling is quickly rising for this trio. Stroud has the Texans looking like a severely underrated offense. If the rookie can continue to be consistent there is no reason to think he can’t be a top-10 fantasy quarterback for the rest of the season.
Shallow League Options (More than 70% Rostership): Geno Smith, SEA (77% rostered), Jordan Love, GB (76% rostered), Brock Purdy, SF (76% rostered)
Medium League Options (50 to 70% Rostership): Daniel Jones, NYG (69% rostered), Russell Wilson, DEN (57% rostered), Matthew Stafford, LAR (51%)
Deeper League Options (25 to 50% Rostership): Kyler Murray, ARI (26% rostered)
Dart Throw Options (Less than 25% Rostership): Baker Mayfield, TB (18% rostered), Sam Howell, WSH (18% rostered), Bryce Young, CAR (12% rostered), Joshua Dobbs, ARI (5% rostered), Zach Wilson, NYJ (3% rostered), Ryan Tannehill, TEN (6% rostered)
Running Backs
Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos ($ 20)
Week 4 Opponent: Jets, Rostership: 3%
Javonte Williams suffered a hip flexor in Week 4. At this time it’s unknown exactly how severe that injury will be. McLaughlin stepped up in his absence and was dominant. Should Williams miss any extended period of time, McLaughlin could be a solid RB2 option.
He has proven to have some standalone value in this offense regardless and could be a worthwhile waiver add. McLaughlin is the unquestioned waiver target among running backs this week.
Shallow League Options (More than 70% Rostership): Khalil Herbert, CHI (77% rostered), Tyler Allgeier, ATL (74% rostered)
Medium League Options (50 to 70% Rostership): Zach Charbonnet, SEA (56% rostered), Jaylen Warren, PIT (54% rostered), Roschon Johnson, CHI (55% rostered)
Deeper League Options (25 to 50% Rostership): Jerick McKinnon, KC (43% rostered), Jeff Wilson, SF (27% rostered), Tyjae Spears, TEN (24% rostered), Tank Bigsby, JAC (29% rostered)
Dart Throw Options (Less than 25% Rostership): Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (18% rostered), Latavius Murray, BUF (10% rostered), Rico Dowdle, DAL (9% rostered)
Wide Receivers
Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals ($10)
Week 4 Opponent: Bengals, Rostership: 2%
Wilson exploded in Week 4 with a two-touchdown performance. It was a career high in receptions and receiving yards, with seven catches for 76 yards. Joshua Dobbs has been far better at quarterback than anyone expected and that has made both Wilson and Marquise Brown more reliable for fantasy football.
He could prove to be a solid WR3 option for the rest of the season and the sky is the limit once Kyler Murray returns to this offense.
Shallow League Options (More than 70% Rostership): Courtland Sutton, DEN (77% rostered), Tank Dell, HOU (75% rostered), Diontae Johnson, PIT (72% rostered), Jahan Dotson, WSH (70% rostered)
Medium League Options (50 to 70% Rostership): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA (69% rostered), Joshua Palmer, LAC (61% rostered), Tutu Atwell, LAR (69%), Romeo Doubs, GB (54%)
Deeper League Options (25 to 50% Rostership): Rashid Shaheed, NO (42% rostered), Quentin Johnston, LAC (47% rostered), Marvin Mims, DEN (27% rostered), Rashee Rice, KC (26% rostered)
Dart Throw Options (Less than 25% Rostership): Jayden Reed, GB (24% rostered), Jalin Hyatt, NYG (9% rostered), DJ Chark, CAR (17% rostered), Jonathan Mingo, CAR (9% rostered), Braxton Berrios, MIA (2%)
Tight Ends
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears ($10)
Week 4 Opponent: Commanders, Rostership: 53%
Kmet was on fire in Week 4 against a horrible Broncos defense. He had 7 catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns en route to his best fantasy output of the season.
Whether or not the Bears have turned things around remains to be seen. Could this week have been the result of a cupcake matchup? It’s certainly possible, but in a thin tight-end market, he is the best option.
Shallow League Options (More than 70% Rostership): Tyler Higbee, LAR (71% rostered), Hunter Henry, NE(72% rostered)
Medium League Options (50 to 70% Rostership): Cole Kmet, CHI (53% rostered), David Njoku, CLE (59% rostered), Dalton Kincaid, BUF (67% rostered), Jake Ferguson, DAL (53% rostered)
Deeper League Options (25 to 50% Rostership): Chigoziem Okonkwo, TEN (42% rostered), Luke Musgrave, GB (36% rostered), Dalton Schultz, HOU (36% rostered), Zach Ertz, ARI (26% rostered)
Dart Throw Options (Less than 25% Rostership): Donald Parham, LAC (13%), Logan Thomas, WSH (6% rostered), Tyler Conklin, NYJ (3% rostered)
If you like Fantasy Football 2023: Week 5 Waiver Wire Targets, head over to our rankings page for a full breakdown.
